Sustainability in Spatial Planning: Climate Change Challenges and Local Development
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 131
Special Issue Editors
Interests: hydrology and water resources management; urban environment and sustainability; phytoremediation and nature-based solutions; greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; soil and water quality monitoring; nitrogen budget and reactive nitrogen emissions; hydrological modeling and climate change adaptation; renewable energy and energy efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: heavy metal contamination and pollution control; urban environment and sustainability; phytoremediation and nature-based solutions; greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Interests: wastewater treatment and phosphorus removal; circular economy in wastewater management; environmental pollution and remediation; sustainable use of natural resources, environmental technologies
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The increasing impacts of climate change present significant challenges to sustainable spatial planning and local development. As urbanization accelerates and land-use practices intensify, there is a growing need for innovative approaches that integrate climate adaptation, resource efficiency, and environmental resilience. This Special Issue focuses on the intersection of sustainability, spatial planning, climate change, air pollution, human health, hydrology, and biodiversity, addressing key challenges and opportunities in shaping resilient communities.
This Special Issue will explore scientific, socio-economic, and policy-driven approaches that support climate-resilient spatial planning. Contributions are invited that focus on the following: (1) the integration of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies into land-use planning; (2) innovative tools, models, and technologies for sustainable urban and rural development; (3) governance frameworks and policy measures for climate adaptation; (4) the role of nature-based solutions, circular economy principles, and stakeholder participation in sustainable spatial development; (5) the interactions between air pollution, human health, and urban planning; (6) hydrological processes and their role in flood management, water resource protection, and climate resilience; (7) the impact of spatial planning on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
By compiling interdisciplinary research, this Special Issue will provide valuable insights into how sustainability principles can be embedded into spatial planning to enhance local resilience and climate adaptation strategies. The findings will contribute to the existing literature by advancing methodological approaches, identifying knowledge gaps, and proposing practical solutions for policymakers, urban planners, environmental scientists, and researchers.
Dr. Inga Grinfelde
Dr. Jovita Pilecka-Ulcugaceva
Dr. Ruta Ozola-Davidāne
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- climate change adaptation
- sustainable spatial planning
- land-use management
- nature-based solutions
- local development strategies
- urban resilience
- governance and policy integration
- smart and green infrastructure
- circular economy
- air pollution and human health
- hydrology and flood management
- water resources and climate resilience
- biodiversity and ecosystem services
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
